HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Daniel Zimpfer Martin Czerny Marie-Theres Kasimir Gernot Seebacher Paul Simon Michael Grimm Ernst Wolner Marek Ehrlich Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zimpfer, D. Articles by Ehrlich, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zimpfer, D. Articles by Ehrlich, M. Related Collections Great vessels

---

Original Articles: Cardiovascular

Experimental Stent-Graft Treatment of Ascending Aortic Dissection

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, LBI for Cardiosurgical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
^b Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
^c Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Accepted for publication September 22, 2007.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Zimpfer, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Vienna, Wahringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, A-1090, Austria (Email: daniel.zimpfer{at}meduniwien.ac.at).

Background: This study assessed the feasibility of stent graft treatment of ascending aortic dissections in a porcine in vitro model.

Methods: The entire thoracic aortic aorta including the supraaortic branches was harvested from 12 adult pigs and an intimal tear was artificially created. The aortic annulus was then sewn into a silicon ring of a driving chamber. The distal aorta was connected to tubing with adjustable resistance elements. The circulation was driven by a hydraulic motor piston pump to mimic aortic flow and pressure. After creating a dissection by elevating the systolic aortic pressure to 180 mm Hg, a 2- x 2.6-cm covered stent graft was inserted through the brachiocephalic trunk using a specially designed delivery system. Stent graft placement was performed under continuous ultrasound control.

Results: The longitudinal length of the created ascending aortic dissection was 1.8 ± 0.39 cm. Ultrasound studies revealed successful deployment of the stent graft and closure of the false lumen in all 12 cases. Diameter and area of the true lumen increased from 0.52 ± 0.15 cm to 2.54 ± 0.36 cm (p < 0.05) and from 0.78 ± 0.27 cm² to 5.13 ± 1.35 cm² (p < 0.05), respectively. The circumference of the true lumen increased from 4.50 ± 0.52 cm to 7.96 ± 1.2 cm (p < 0.05). Ultrasound studies also revealed uncompromised function of the aortic valve in all cases. No dislodging of stent grafts was observed.

Conclusions: Given ideal anatomy, experimental stent graft placement for ascending aortic dissection is feasible and achieves complete closure of the false lumen.